This document lists and describes 17 ways to use a visualizer in the classroom. Some examples include using it to peer review student work, model shapes and skills, investigate magnetic fields, view changes over time in plants or other objects, teach calculator use, and share apps on an iPad. Tips are provided for each idea, such as recording students as they work through problems or annotating over images on an interactive whiteboard. The document encourages sharing additional tips and provides contact information for the author.

1. 16 Interesting Ways* to use a
Visualiser in the Classroom
*and tips
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 License.

2. #1 - Use it to peer review lesson work
Place a piece of work on the
visualiser at the end of a
lesson, and allow the class to
discuss the positive features
of the work produced.
Why not go a step further and
allow the children to create
the "3 stars and a wish" for
the work (3 good points, and
something to aim for in the
next piece of work).

3. #2 - Use it to model nets of shapes
In numeracy activities, you
can place a net of a shape on
the visualiser, and invite
pupils to come out and
construct the 3D shape.
The rest of the class can view
the process of constructing
the shape.
they work through the
If you use the video function problem, and save it as
within some visualisers, you evidence of their
can also record the pupils as understanding.

4. #3 - Make an animation
Use the camera to make an
animation. Design some split
pin models (to create limb
movement), use fuzzy felt
shapes, or just draw a
character, and place them
over a background.
Take a photograph of the If your visualiser allows you to
scene, before moving the rotate the camera angle, you
character slightly. Put them all can create 3D animation too
together in moviemaker or using plastic brick characters.
2animate to make a movie.

5. #4 Use it to Investigate Magnetic Fields
Use bar magnets and iron
filings to show magnetic field
patterns of a single
magnet, then pairs of
attracting and repeling
magnets.
Children predict what
patterns will be like with
Individuals and groups can test
other magnets of different
out their predictions and then
shape or strength e.g.
show their results to the rest of the
horseshoe, ring etc
class

6. #5 Combine it with a Smartboard
If you can connect your visualiser to a
Smartboard, then you can grab an image of
a piece of work and manipulate it.
Take a piece of text and grab
the image on the Smartboard.
Blank out some of the words -
Take a child's piece of writing can the children correctly work
and - using the Ink Layer on a out the missing content?
Smartboard - write over the Flick back to the visualiser
top of the work without ruining image to compare their
the original. choices.

7. #6 Use it as a magnifying glass
Some visualisers have an Zoom in on a flower to look
impressive zooming ability inside the petals.
within their camera. Use this
facility to take a closer look at Zoom in on a drop of water to
objects during lessons. see the shape it makes.
Zoom in on a tissue to see the
fibres that it contains.
Zoom in...
If the camera can be
rotated, take a close look at
objects from different angles
too.

8. #7 Class Texts on the IWB
Rather than photocopy 30
versions of a page of text to use
in a literacy lesson - put the
book you are using on the
visualiser. That way everyone in
the class can see it easily.
You can also point to a Use the visualiser with a
particular word / sentence and Smartboard and you can grab
the whole class can see where the page of text and annotate
you are pointing. it with pupil
comments, thoughts and
ideas.

9. #8 View changes over time
Watch a plant grow over a Watch the images back using
period of time. Place the plant the "slideshow" option in
on the visualiser and take a windows photo album folders
photo of it. Over a week / month to view the changes to the
repeat this once a day. plant.

10. #9 Use it as a Webcam
If you can rotate the camera on
your visualiser, you can point
the lens towards the class and
use it to video conference.
You will still need to install
video conferencing software
on the computer, and tell the
software to use the visualiser
as a webcam, and you might
need an external mic.

11. #10 Model skills to the whole class
Show the class how to perform a
particular skill easily by
demonstrating it on the
visualiser;
Model handwriting styles
Demonstrate an art technique Model a science investigation
Model a procedure in Maths Show how to read a thermometer
Demonstrate needlecraft Show how to use a protractor

12. #11 Use it to learn about symmmetry
If you've got a visualiser Place some coloured cubes on
with lots of extra the visualiser base and freeze the
features, you might have image. Once you've split the
one that allows you to screen you can let children show
freeze the image, and then how the cubes will appear if
split the screen. If so, you reflected.
can use the visualiser for all
sorts of symmetry work.

13. #12 Make your own visualiser for £30
For about £20 you can get a
good camcorder from ebay.
Spend another few pounds
making a rig for it and you
have a very cheap
visualiser!
This is great when a visualiser
just won't fit enough into screen
- like when drawing on A3
paper.
Use it to model exactly what the
pupils have to do without them
crowding round one desk

14. #13 Use it in assembly
If you have a projector in the hall, you could use a
visualiser in assembly. It could be used to display a visual
aid, share good work, or to show words for hymn practice.
Tip: If you have hymns on
acetates, place a plain sheet of
paper under the acetate. This will
help the visualiser to show the
text more clearly.

15. #14 - Teach Calculator Use
Different calculators work
differently. Use the
visualiser to show how to
efficiently use each of the
most common models.
In real time you can show
how to convert from
Degrees to Radians
modes, or how to use the
fraction button or convert
from surd to decimals
etc...
From @Chris_1974

16. #15 Dissections in Science
Get a close up view of flower, organ and other dissections
without having a whole class crowded round a table. Can
annotate over top of images when displayed in IWB.
Can save images for use later. @dannynic

17. #16 Sharing apps using ipad/ipod
Select and download
excellent apps for
learning, such as, Epic
Citadel, Dragon
Dictation, Percy Parker sings
the Times Tables, Puppet
Pals, Tribbs to name a
few. Then use your visualiser
to project these through your
IWB for all to share.
@nickynewbury

18. #17 A portable Visualiser
If you have an android phone, you can download (free)
ipwebcam.
This is a simple piece of software that can feed your android
phone camera to your IWB. No need to get student work to the
front, simply wander around the class, and point your phone.
@Chris_1974
(pictures to follow).

19. If you would like to:
• Contribute your ideas and tips to the presentation.
• Let me know how you have used the resource.
• Get in touch.
You can email me or I am @tombarrett on Twitter
If you add a tip (or even
if you don't) please
tweet about it and the
link so more people can
contribute.
Image: ‘Sharing‘
I have created a page for all
of the Interesting Ways
presentations on my blog. Thanks for helping
Tom Barrett
The whole family in one
Have you seen Maths Maps yet?
place :-)